Garga Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Something strange happened yesterday and I just need to talk it out because it upset me. My ds13 and I were visiting Gettysburg yesterday. In Gburg they have these metal observation towers. The one we were on was 60 feet tall. The stairs are open to the air and the top is open as well, with a roof and a 1/2 wall so you don't fall off. (Google images for "Gettysburg observation tower culp's hill") It's a little creepy walking up all those metal steps and even if you're sure footed it can feel like you're going to fall, just because it's so open. My son and I were trying to get to the top of the tower as quickly as possible, so we could photograph the quickly setting sun. By the time we got to the top, our hearts were pumping really fast and we could barely breathe because we'd run up the steps so fast. A man was at the top of the tower, probably in his late 50s. He headed down the steps and said, "Don't let anyone rock the boat on the way down." We didn't think much of it. Every time we've been there, people always say something like that at the top of the steps. Everyone there is a tourist and they're all being friendly and acknowledging that it's a little creepy up there and that you arrive at the top out of breath. We started quickly setting up the tripod when a horrible sound, like buckling metal or something, reverberated through the tower. Our hearts were already pumping, we were 60 feet in the air in an open metal tower. It was pretty terrifying. There was a light breeze, but it sounded like we were in some sort of gale and the tower was warping or something. I've been on that tower quite a number of times and had never heard anything like that. It happened again. My son was getting really upset. We were picturing the tower falling over and us dying in a crumpled heap of metal. Then again...this time a rhythmic crash-crash-crash. Too rhythmic. At the bottom of the tower is a gate that can be swung to shut the steps if the Gburg park people don't want anyone climbing the tower. I couldn't see for sure, but I'm 99% sure that the man we met at the top of the tower who told us "don't let anyone rock the boat on the way down" had been jumping on the landings and was now at the bottom crashing that gate against the tower. My son just wanted down. He wanted to leave. He was scared. And I was scared to leave because a crazy man was at the bottom trying to scare us. But I was more furious than scared. WHAT A JERK. I was soooo angry. I looked over the edge to see the guy get into his car and drive off and we went down. Part of me wished he was still there so I could yell at him and part of me was glad he left because anyone who would do that to other people sounds unbalanced and possibly dangerous. Oh, I was so angry. My son was pretty upset. And we missed our picture opportunity. It's for a photography class and now we'll have to go out another night to catch the setting sun. Why are people like that? Edited July 18, 2016 by Garga_ Quote
fairfarmhand Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 JERK! Sorry the loser ruined your chance for a good photo. 1 Quote
Laurie4b Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 Very creepy. I would report it to the police there. They likely won't be able to do anything but the description might help if the guy does something else weird to someone else. 5 Quote
MFG Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Report it to the park service. There may be security video that will allow them to id him. Edited July 18, 2016 by MFG 9 Quote
Annie G Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 What a jerk! I'm sorry. Some people are just mean. Quote
creekland Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 Another time it can be worth it to take a picture of him. When we saw an idiot defacing a rock (scratching in graffiti) we pulled out our camera. He stopped and took off quickly. We didn't get the chance to take the pic, but still mentioned it to a ranger when we saw one - with a description, of course. Why people are like that is unknown - they're in their own little world I suppose - where life is "all about me" and getting "my jollies." 2 Quote
Seasider Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Report it to the park service. There may be security video that will allow them to id him.If not, it may be the incentive the park needs to install such security measures. Because really, in the situation you described, a visitor is pretty much trapped up there. ETA Creekland had a great idea above, taking a picture of the fool. Edited July 18, 2016 by Seasider 1 Quote
Garga Posted July 18, 2016 Author Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Another time it can be worth it to take a picture of him. When we saw an idiot defacing a rock (scratching in graffiti) we pulled out our camera. He stopped and took off quickly. We didn't get the chance to take the pic, but still mentioned it to a ranger when we saw one - with a description, of course. Why people are like that is unknown - they're in their own little world I suppose - where life is "all about me" and getting "my jollies." "Jollies" is exactly the right word. I think he thought it would be hilarious to scare us up there on the tower. A great joke or something. It's aggressive and threatening. Not funny. Edited July 18, 2016 by Garga 3 Quote
Guest Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 I think that might be worth reporting to the park rangers. Very bizarre indeed. Quote
Heatherwith4 Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 I would report him. You would think with all the crazy stuff that's been happening lately, people would know not to act that way. 2 Quote
Guest Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 Rude, but par for the course these days. We visited Fort Matanzas earlier this year and found the next boatload of 35 people arriving after us wouldnt allow anyone to descend, as they all ascended. The boats are on a time schedule...they had to send one back 3/4 empty since the people were trapped on top. Are you certain there were no other people, who could have been jumping on the landings? Quote
Garga Posted July 18, 2016 Author Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Rude, but par for the course these days. We visited Fort Matanzas earlier this year and found the next boatload of 35 people arriving after us wouldnt allow anyone to descend, as they all ascended. The boats are on a time schedule...they had to send one back 3/4 empty since the people were trapped on top. Are you certain there were no other people, who could have been jumping on the landings? There was a couple at the bottom by the time we got back to the ground. A man and a woman. They were in their 40's taking pictures of each other on a nearby rock. But they emerged from the trees while my son and I were heading down the steps, so I think they were too far away to be the ones causing trouble. I don't know if they saw or did anything and I didn't feel like asking. I was mad as a hornet and thought there was a slim chance of catching the sun further down the road, so we left quickly (we missed the sun further down the road.) The noises began at about the same time it would have taken the man to get half way down the tower. It happened within 1/2 a minute of him talking about rocking the boat on the way down. My first instant thoughts were, "Wind!" which was quickly replaced with "Rocking the boat." (You know how in situations where you feel in danger that your brain works super fast. The "Wind" "Rocking the Boat" thoughts happened almost at the same time. I stood still to feel for wind, but there was only a gentle breeze. Then the rumbling again. Then the rhythmic thumping, which seemed to confirm my "rocking the boat" thought, because by then he would have been right by the gate at the bottom of the tower steps. Then, looked down and saw him get in the car and leave. Saw the people coming out of the trees as we began walking down the steps. Edited July 18, 2016 by Garga Quote
Jean in Newcastle Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 I would have yelled "Knock it off" really loudly. 1 Quote
fdrinca Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 "Jollies" is exactly the right word. I think he thought it would be hilarious to scare us up there on the tower. A great joke or something. It's aggressive and threatening. Not funny. I'm not at all saying that this is OK or excusable, but I could absolutely see my father doing something like this. He had a...selfish...sense of humor. Although he wouldn't have done it if he'd have thought it would have caused so much anxiety. He was always ice-cubes-down-backs and car-horns-honked-in-faces. His humor never quite moved past age 13. No wonder he liked the Three Stooges so much. I'm sorry it was so scary for you and your son. 2 Quote
Outdoorsy Type Posted July 18, 2016 Posted July 18, 2016 That sounds like he might be developmentally delayed or mentally ill more than rude. It isn't rational behavior. Quote
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